1ST READING
Elijah is an enigma to me. One day he seems to be a man of tremendous faith, slaying the prophets of Baal and battling evil. However he is ”down in the dumps” and close to clinical depression the next day. What is the matter with him? Let us be inspired by his moments of faith.
1 Kings 19:4-8
4 Elijah went a day’s journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death, saying: “This is enough, O Lord! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5 He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree, but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. 6 Elijah looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again, 7 but the angel of the Lord came back a second time, touched him, and ordered, “Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!” 8 He got up, ate and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.
P S A L M
Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R: Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
1 [2] I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 2 [3] Let my soul glory in the Lord; the lowly will hear me and be glad. (R) 3 [4] Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. 4 [5] I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. (R) 5 [6] Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 6 [7] When the afflicted man called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him. (R) 7 [8] The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 [9] Taste and see how good the Lord is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him. (R)
2ND READING
When the Scriptures talk of being sealed by God, the image that comes to mind is something similar to branding an animal to denote its ownership. God owns us. He created us and continues to sustain us by His love. We should not be afraid of this concept of ownership as we have a benevolent God who desires only what is good for us.
Ephesians 4:30-5:2
30 Brothers and sisters: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. 5: 1 So be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
GOSPEL
Jesus clearly tells the people that He is greater than Moses. The miracle of feeding in the desert as the people escaped the clutches of Egypt is nothing compared to the way Jesus will feed us with His body and blood in the Eucharist. The former gives sustenance for the earthly body; the second is the source of grace and strength for the spiritual life.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.
John 6:41-51
41 The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” 42 and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop murmuring among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets: ‘They shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50 this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
1st READING 2nd READING
ODAY’S
LIST
think: God owns us. We should not be afraid of this concept of ownership as we have a benevolent God who desires only what is good for us.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 2 Maccabees 11-12
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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